In 1992, the singles "Paris", also the title track of his fourth album, and "L'Amour de trente secondes" gained success. In 1993, Lavoine released his fifth album Faux Rêveur. Lavoine's sixth album Lavoine-Matic, released in 1996, included the single "C'est ça la France", which is a song of tolerance and was awarded Best Video from the Victoire de la Musique. In 1999, his seventh album Septième Ciel was released, with the first single as "Les Tournesols"
Lavoine's eighth album, which did not have a title, was released in 2001. Like former albums, this featured duets with female singers, including Italian singer and actress Cristina Marocco, singer Françoise Hardy and actress Claire Keim. In 2003, he released the single "Dis-moi que l'amour" and a live album entitled Olympia Deux Mille Trois. Lavoine's ninth albulm L'Heure d'été, included singles "Je me sens si seul", "Toi mon amour" and "J'espère", a duet with Belgian singer of Vietnamese descent Quynh Anh.
L'amour de 30 secondes
Marc Lavoine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Putain de peur sur la ville
Putain de pluie
Putain de système débile
Putain d'avenir
Putain de plaie de plaisir
Putain de folie
Putain jolie
Alors elle fait le plus vieux
Métier du monde
Alors elle fait de son mieux
L'amour de trente secondes
Putain de maquereau
Putain de merde de macho
Putain d'ivresse
Putain de caresses en espèce
Putain de rêve
Putain de rouge vif aux lèvres
Putain de froid
Putain de joie
Alors elle fait le plus vieux
Métier du monde
Alors elle fait de son mieux
L'amour de trente secondes
Alors elle fait le plus vieux
Métier du monde
Alors elle fait de son mieux
L'amour de trente secondes
Putain de nuit
Putain de talon-aiguille
Putain de pays
Putain de trottoir qui brille
Putain d'histoire
Putain d'hôtel pathétique
Putain de mémoire
Putain de musique
Alors elle fait le plus vieux
Métier du monde
Alors elle fait de son mieux
L'amour de trente secondes
Alors elle fait le plus vieux
Métier du monde
Alors elle fait de son mieux
L'amour de trente secondes
The lyrics of Marc Lavoine's song L'amour de 30 secondes depict the life of a sex worker who feels trapped in a world full of pain, fear, and uncertainty. The repeated refrain of "putain," which means "whore" or "prostitute" in French, emphasizes the feeling of oppression and dehumanization experienced by the singer. She is forced to sell her body to make a living and faces daily challenges and dangers on the street.
The lyrics also touch upon the issue of male domination and exploitation. The "putain de maquereau," or pimp, is depicted as a parasite who preys on vulnerable women and exploits them for his own profit. The singer is subjected to unwanted advances and violence from men who view her solely as an object of pleasure.
Despite the bleakness and desperation of the situation, there is a sense of resilience and defiance in the lyrics. The singer is determined to make the best of her situation and takes pride in her ability to please her clients even if it is only for "l'amour de trente secondes," meaning "thirty seconds of love." This phrase encapsulates the fleeting, transactional nature of the singer's relationships with her clients, highlighting the spiritual and emotional void in her life.
Line by Line Meaning
Putain de vie
Life is tough
Putain de peur sur la ville
Fear is everywhere
Putain de pluie
Rain adds to the misery
Putain de système débile
The system is flawed
Putain d'avenir
The future is uncertain
Putain de plaie de plaisir
Pleasure is fleeting
Putain de folie
Madness is all around
Putain jolie
It's both beautiful and terrible
Alors elle fait le plus vieux
Métier du monde
She turns to the world's oldest profession
Alors elle fait de son mieux
L'amour de trente secondes
She gives her all to the brief moments of love
Putain de maquereau
The pimp is despicable
Putain de merde de macho
The male chauvinist is disgusting
Putain d'ivresse
Drunkenness adds to the desperation
Putain de caresses en espèce
Affection is exchanged for money
Putain de rêve
Dreams are shattered
Putain de rouge vif aux lèvres
Bright red lips symbolize the facade of the profession
Putain de froid
Coldness pervades
Putain de joie
Happiness remains elusive
Putain de nuit
The night is dark and dangerous
Putain de talon-aiguille
High heels represent the discomfort of the job
Putain de pays
The country fails to provide opportunities
Putain de trottoir qui brille
The sparkling sidewalk is a deceptive backdrop
Putain d'histoire
The story is tragic
Putain d'hôtel pathétique
The pathetic hotel provides a temporary escape
Putain de mémoire
Memories haunt and torment
Putain de musique
Music highlights the despair
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Fabrice Aboulker, Marc Lavoine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind